Non-animal Methods and Strategies for Developmental Toxicity

Request for Data and Information on Technologies Used for Identifying Potential Developmental Toxicants

In May 2018, NICEATM requested available data and information on approaches and/or technologies currently used to identify potential developmental toxicants. Submitted information will help:

Assess the state of the science for these approaches and technologies

Determine technical needs for approaches to assess this endpoint

Developmental toxicity tests evaluate the extent to which exposure to a substance can interfere with normal development. This testing is required by multiple regulatory agencies and uses large numbers of animals. NICEATM supports efforts to develop, validate, and implement alternative approaches to identify potential developmental toxicants. The goal of these alternative approaches is to replace, reduce, or refine the use of animals in testing.

Respondents to this request should provide information on activities relevant to development or validation of alternatives to in vivo developmental toxicity test methods. NICEATM also requests available data from in vivo developmental studies, human or animal studies, or accidental human exposures, using the same chemicals that are used to evaluate the alternative developmental toxicity test methods.

Respondents to this request for information should include their name, affiliation (if applicable), mailing address, telephone, email, and sponsoring organization (if any) with their communications. Responses to this notice will be posted on this webpage, so no proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in responses. Persons submitting responses will be identified by name and affiliation or sponsoring organization, if applicable.

The May 2018 request followed a similar request for available data and information issued in June 2016.

Sebastian Hoffmann, SEH Consulting + Services – Performance of the zebrafish embryo test in predicting the presence and absence of malformations in the studies of prenatal development toxicity in rats and rabbits – a systematic review

Request for Data and Information on Zebrafish Embryo Screening

In November 2016, NICEATM issued a request for available data and information on zebrafish embryo screening tests and protocol design, including pharmacokinetic measurements. This information was used to:

While the Federal Register notice asked that data be submitted by December 2016, NICEATM continues to accept submissions of relevant data. Respondents should provide information on any activities relevant to the development or validation of zebrafish embryo screening assays.

NICEATM is particularly interested in how study design may influence measures of toxicity/bioactivity and the kinetics associated with chemical uptake. For comparative purposes, NICEATM also requests any available data from in vivo developmental studies using the same chemicals. NICEATM specifically requests information on efforts to optimize zebrafish embryo screening tests and protocol design, including comparisons of:

Zebrafish strains

Embryos with and without an intact chorion, the permeable membrane enclosing the zebrafish embryo